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The first new cat species discovered in 100 years

379 points · 148 comments · ohjeez

autoexec · 1789671867 · focus · HN ↗
It's Leopardus tilcayo aka 'tilcayo tiger cat' and it's very cute. Wikipedia doesn't have a page dedicated to it yet.
Bonus pics: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SEI_312819149.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://www.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SEI_...
<a href="https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/73a4cafd69e9e86312a459e0206a1469.png" rel="nofollow">https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/73a4cafd69e9e863...
<a href="https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/1fea354ba7a8db696e3bc8750e32dca0.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/1fea354ba7a8db69...
<a href="https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/get/maximage/20260917_1789662761-615.jpeg?1789662761" rel="nofollow">https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/get/maximage/20260917_17896627...
1. cromka · 1789689002 · focus · HN ↗
  Looks like a house cat, I am betting it's a matter of months before someone starts selling the crossbreds, like they do with Bengal.
  Also, they're only 3-4 lbs!
  1. BeetleB · 1789762068 · focus · HN ↗
    Let's see if it (or crossbreeds) can be tamed.
    This particular one was actually being kept in a house because someone confused it for a "pretty housecat". After a while, the owner realized it didn't want to be tamed and contacted someone for help.
    Also, it's the only known one in existence. Hard to start a breeding program unless they find more.
    shevy-java · 1789764178 · focus · HN ↗
    I mean, taming animals is trivial. Look at the lion whisperer. People before that thought that lions are always wild.
    Some animals are just harder to tame and remain ferocious more than others. But behaviour of animals is adaptable and most animals learn.
    sscaryterry · 1789775754 · focus · HN ↗
    The only reason my house cat has not murdered me is because he is 4kg, and I'm not. He loves me though.
    WalterBright · 1789776127 · focus · HN ↗
    My cat always looked at me like "if only you were smaller..."
    sscaryterry · 1789776338 · focus · HN ↗
    I'd be getting scared when a cat reaches the 20kg threshold. I'm about 90kg, so thats a 4.5x ratio :)
    Cats are the perfect killing machines (apart from maybe sharks) :)
    FpUser · 1789783479 · focus · HN ↗
    >"I'd be getting scared when a cat reaches the 20kg threshold" - most likely even 10kg cat will shred you before you could blink. They're insanely fast and surprisingly strong for size. Furry explosives they are
    TheOtherHobbes · 1789823304 · focus · HN ↗
    An angry cat in full fight mode will absolutely put a human in hospital, and the bites and scratches are teeming with potentially deadly bacteria.
    They may be unique - a super-successful predator that has persuaded a more dominant species to look after it by looking cute and feeling soft and making relaxing noises.
    [deleted] · 1789827410 · focus · HN ↗
    [deleted]

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